Postcard from NY#5

Tell the Stories 28 October 2011

“Tell the stories. Let the world know. Create the visibility. Use the Peace Portal,” said Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, as he responded to the concern raised by panelists in a public roundtable (NY, 27 October) organized by GPPAC in the lead up to today’s UN Security Council Open Debate on Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security)

The roundtable was an opportunity to call for greater accountability from member states and the UN system through the tangible, well resourced national and regional action plans based on UNSCR1325 and linked to existing human rights commitments including CEDAW.

These plans, would be build on the indicators, or the proof of the added value of involving women as mediators, negotiators, as dialogue facilitators and civil society agents for human security. These are the tangible indicators, which pre-date and have informed the adoption of UNSCR1325. These are the indicators which need to be adapted now 11 years on since October 31, 2000:

“It is time to break down the visible and invisible walls,” says Chowdhury, adding that the glass ceiling between commitment and action is 11 years too late.

There also remains serious concern that despite the evidence, such as through the data available from the Global Media Monitoring Project, the stereotypical portrayal of women as victims continues to be perpetuated in many public media outlets and is not contributing to the transformative change needed to build sustainable and gender inclusive peace.

To make the change requires the equitable allocation and distribution human and financial resources, technical and institutional resources to build on the acknowledgment and recognition of the her-story of work as Peacebuilders and Peace Educators. It does require member states and UN agencies to improve their collaboration, to build on the work of peace activists and civil society analysts dedicated to peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Through the presentations participants, including representatives from UN agencies and member states, were reminded that women in countries like Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka have brokered peace; women continue to provide a space to console and support communities using peace vigils and inter-personal communication; women use community media forms to reach across ethnic and armed divisions, and that the work for peace transcends from our homes to beyond national and even regional borders.

Meanwhile: 1325 in-fashion By Suzanne Jimbul, FemLINKPACIFIC correspondent at Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency 28 October 2011 Buka, Bougainville, PNG A competition calling was fashionable designs in Bougainville may have been a unique way to commemorate the 11th anniversary of UNSCR1325 but the design was certainly to advocate for women, peace and human security, in particular economic security. Organised by Generation Next club of Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency in response to an initiative of Honourable Rose Pihei Minister for Community Development, Women and Youth. According to the Executive Director for Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency and convenor of the Regional Network on UNSCR1325: ‘The event is also an advocacy day to reach members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and highlight the relevance of the resolution.”

The Fashion Show was also a platform for designs which will be presented to the ABG in the quest for the unique and distinctive look for men and women which represents Bougainville. This event had a particular focus on involving young people including vocational and secondary schools who will be able to showcase their work and also sell their outfits as well. Ruth a seamstress from Buin, South Bougainville welcomed the event: ‘My family’s economic security is sustained through the money I earn from sewing. My husband left me with four children a few years ago without any financial assistance. Since then I have been sewing to maintain my family’s livelihoods such as buying food, medicine and my children’s school fees. The 1325 Fashion Competition is a door way for women and youth to participate in this significant event and it will also be an opportunity for them to share their experiences and get to know more about this vital resolution that focuses on women, peace and security.”

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls Executive Director femLINKPACIFIC

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